Thrissur: Kerala is depending on Tamil Nadu for coir despite having plenty of coconut trees. Tamil Nadu is earning Rs 67.5 cr through the sale of coir only to government organizations in Kerala.

2.5 quintal coir is imported from Tamil Nadu for the companies under Coir Board. Rs 27 is to be given for 1 kg of coir. Thus, Tamil Nadu earns Rs 67.5 cr in a year.

Around 578 cr coconuts are produced in Kerala as per the statistics of the coconut development board. In Tamil Nadu, it is 471 cr. But, Tamil Nadu produces double the quantity coir when compared to Kerala. Not even 20 per cent of coir from the coconuts produced in Kerala are processed for industrial purposes.

There are more users for raw coir. The coir board is collecting coir by paying 90 paisa per coconut. 60 paisa is given for dry coir.

The coir department has found that import from Tamil Nadu can be completely stopped within 5 years by starting 100 coir factories in a year. Kerala has begun moves for this. 50 coir mills of coir department have started working.

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